Options for Missing Teeth

Lifelike, natural-looking teeth replacement options

Advances in technology have enabled the majority of people with missing teeth to avail themselves of the benefits of dental implants. Even patients with severe bone loss can now receive minimally invasive bone augmentation and have dental implants placed. Patients with all their teeth missing and severe bone loss can also get the New Teeth in One Day procedure, which requires no bone grafting. Although implants need to heal in order to place the final new teeth, Dr. Amini makes sure all patients have functional, natural-looking temporary teeth during the healing period.

While the modern consensus is that dental implants are the treatment of choice for missing teeth, Dr. Amini understand that there are various situations that could require other replacement options such as dentures and dental bridges. He approaches each case on a patient-by-patient basis and recommends treatment that would best suit the patient.

You can read more about the options Dr. Amini recommends below.

Individual tooth replacement

Dental implants

For replacing a single tooth, the best option is usually an implant-supported crown. A dental implant is a titanium post surgically placed in the jawbone as a tooth-like root.

Dental Bridges

Dr. Amini can replace your missing tooth with a bridge, a series of crowns fitted over the gap and the adjacent teeth. These adjacent, or abutment, teeth need to be ground down in preparation, which can weaken the teeth. Once the standard of treatment for single missing teeth, the dental bridge’s success rate has now been eclipsed by that of dental implants. Dr. Amini will generally recommend a dental implant over a bridge, except where there are medical issues.

Mini Dental Implants

A mini dental implant (or MDI) is a small-diameter dental implant, less than three millimeters wide, that is usually about half the diameter of a regular dental implant. Dr. Amini uses these attached to crowns to replace lower front teeth when there is limited space in these areas.

Replacing multiple teeth or all teeth in an arch

Dr. Amini addresses patients with multiple missing teeth on a case-by-case basis. As well as a specific replacement option as described below, he also does combinations of options. As a prosthodontist he is able to creatively plan a patient’s teeth replacement and give the patient various options to choose from. He consults with each patient extensively to understand their goals, concerns and what they are willing to do. He also takes into consideration the amount of bone mass, how much space is available and other factors.

Implant-Supported Dentures

Dentures notoriously slip and become uncomfortable. They make it difficult to eat certain foods. Dr. Amini can use dental implants to stabilize dentures by fitting the dentures with snaps that snap onto attachments on the implants. He either uses your existing dentures or creates new dentures. This would be the most economical option for replacing multiple teeth using implants.

Fixed-in Implant-Supported Dentures

Dr. Amini can fix in your dentures with implants so that they are only removable by him. This usually does away with the false sides and top palate, making the dentures more lifelike and comfortable. This option returns much of your chewing power.

Implant-Supported Bridges

Implant-supported bridges are the replacement option that is the closest to natural teeth. When replacing a full arch of missing teeth, Dr. Amini uses a series of bridges permanently secured to the implants. Dr. Amini uses high-grade, natural-looking porcelain for the new teeth.

This is in an ideal, long-lasting solution for multiple missing teeth, as it allows for optimum chewing power and keeps the jawbone stimulated and healthy so bone loss does not occur.

New Teeth in One Day

Dr. Amini uses specially angled implants to take maximum advantage of existing bone, eliminating the need for bone grafting. It’s possible to complete this implant procedure and place beautiful, functional temporary teeth all in one day.

Dentures

Dr. Amini creates well-fitting, comfortable and natural-looking dentures. He plans them carefully to get the best fit and look possible.